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low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 5:19 pm
by eljayski
i wouldn't think so, but both my 360 and 381 aren't working on the neck pups. i flip the switches and hear scratchiness. none of my other guitars with toggles, gibson, carvin, heritage, has this issue. irritating, it is . . .
tempted to change out the switches. anyone else experiencing this problem?
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 5:31 pm
by Grey
How old are the guitars, are you the original ower, what condition are they in, when did they simultaneously stop working, etc. etc.
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 5:39 pm
by eljayski
both purchased in 2010; i'm original owner; both in pristine condition, never leave the house.
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 5:46 pm
by aceonbass
You should have a look under the guard to see if the problem might be a simple fix, such as dust on the contacts, An errant wire grounding out, or corrosion. The pickup selectors in RIC's have always been high quality Switchcraft parts.
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 5:57 pm
by rkbsound
I have 3 Ricks and if I don't play one for a while, the switch gets very touchy. I have also found this to be the case with other brands, too.
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 8:27 pm
by jps
eljayski wrote:i wouldn't think so, but both my 360 and 381 aren't working on the neck pups.
You're not using a mono cable out of the ROS jack, by chance, are you?
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 8:33 pm
by aceonbass
Plugging a mono cable into the ROS jack on a stock Rick will ONLY give you the neck pickup, so that can't be the problem.
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 8:49 pm
by jps
Sorry, I had it backwards!
Tells you how often I use ROS.
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 9:09 pm
by paologregorio
I was going to say...
I am a big fan of the toggle switch wiggle. I've sprayed de-oxit occasionally into the toggles, but other than that, I have yet to replace a Rick toggle switch; they are tough!
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 9:16 pm
by JakeK
paologregorio wrote:I am a big fan of the toggle switch wiggle.
Inspired by Townshend or Dave Davies?
I had a scratchy selector switch on my 360/12 last year, creating an unpleasant distorted sound. When I took the pickguard off, I noticed that there was quite a bit of dust on the selector contacts, took a Qtip to it, and hey presto, the distortion went away and has never been back.
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 9:46 pm
by collin
I think they all get switches from the same company (switchcraft), who has made them for decades. Gibson, Rickenbacker, Fender, Gretsch...all of em.
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 10:17 pm
by stsang
aceonbass wrote:Plugging a mono cable into the ROS jack on a stock Rick will ONLY give you the neck pickup, so that can't be the problem.
It's the other way around - you'll only get the bridge pickup. Try it for yourself to verify.
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 10:40 pm
by jps
stsang wrote:aceonbass wrote:Plugging a mono cable into the ROS jack on a stock Rick will ONLY give you the neck pickup, so that can't be the problem.
It's the other way around - you'll only get the bridge pickup. Try it for yourself to verify.
Ahh, so I was right!
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:07 pm
by cassius987
stsang wrote:aceonbass wrote:Plugging a mono cable into the ROS jack on a stock Rick will ONLY give you the neck pickup, so that can't be the problem.
It's the other way around - you'll only get the bridge pickup. Try it for yourself to verify.
+1
Re: low-quality toggle switches on rics?
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:09 am
by Tommy
eljayski wrote: anyone else experiencing this problem?
Yes, I am experiencing it.
My 20 year old 360/12 has a dodgey switch. It sputters, it cuts out, I have to shake it a bit until it gets the pickups I selected going. It's been doing that for a few years. I am hoping all that is required to fix is some contact spray. Just never get around to doing it. Honestly, my switch is always in the middle position. I rarely flick it to any other. But when I do...it sputters, it cuts out....
Maybe try what the others suggest -- just a shot of contact spray onto the switch. I'm going to do it one day, that stuff works. I had amp knobs that sputtered and crackled and a quick shot of the spray cured them.